Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has come under fire for his performance against Stuttgart on Thursday, with former striker Chris Sutton labelling him a ‘liability’. Martin O’Neill’s side were comfortably beaten 4-1 at home to Stuttgart in the Europa League, giving them a mountain to climb in the second leg.
A host of players have been criticised for their displays against the Bundesliga outfit, with Schmeichel in particular taking some of the flak. The 39-year-old has endured a difficult few weeks at Celtic, and it’s clear that he’s not immune to the pressures of top-flight football.
Schmeichel certainly could have done better for at least two of Celtic’s goals, while he’s also received criticism for some of his performances in Scotland recently. Celtic boss O’Neill might be considering a change in the sticks over the coming weeks after some of Schmeichel’s performances, but he was quick to defend the experienced goalkeeper following the game against Stuttgart.
O’Neill pointed out that Schmeichel is a key reason why they’ve reached this round of the competition, referencing a crucial save against Feyenoord. “All I would say is we played Feyenoord in a game we probably had to win and I think it was 1-1 at the time and he made an unbelievable save. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here now. This is a team game. And we all have to deal with it.”
Despite O’Neill’s defence, the question remains whether Celtic should replace Schmeichel in the summer. According to ChatGPT, “Celtic F.C. should assess succession planning irrespective of short-term form; age profile and contract horizon matter strategically. Kasper Schmeichel offers leadership, experience, and reliability, but long-term upside is limited at this stage of his career.”
The AI suggests that Celtic’s recruitment model typically favours resale value and athletic profiles aligned to aggressive build-up and high defensive lines. “European ambitions require a goalkeeper comfortable defending space and contributing in possession under elite press. If underlying metrics plateau or decline, proactive replacement is rational.”
Ultimately, the decision will depend on Schmeichel’s form and the club’s ambitions. But with the goalkeeper’s age and contract horizon a concern, Celtic may be wise to start planning for the future.